The Indira Gandhi International Airport (abbreviated as IGIA) is the busiest airport and largest aviation hub of India with close to 40 million passengers a year. The airport was named second best airport in the world in the 25 to 40 million passengers category in 2012 and 2013.
Please be aware that security at Delhi Airport is tight and you should allow for enough time for check-in. Do not show up 50 minutes before your flight, you will be too late. Also be aware that in the winter months (Dec and Jan) visibility can drop considerably due to dense fog and many flights may get delayed, cancelled or diverted.
Most flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport are to Mumbai and to Bangalore but there are many more flights to other destinations as well, most of them by Air India. Every day there are flights to 20 destinations from Indira Gandhi International Airport. Here are the most popular destinations:
The Indira Gandhi Airport has six terminals of which only two are in use. An old terminal known as Terminal 1D is now used for all domestic flights of the budget airlines GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet. Terminal 2 will be demolished and is not in use at this time. The brand new Terminal 3 opened in 2010 and is the 8th largest passenger terminal in the world with all modern facilities and technologies. All international flights and all domestic flights by full-service airlines (Air India, Jet Airways) are handled at this terminal.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport is located 16 km west from New Delhi city center.
The quickest way into the city is using the Delhi Airport Metro Express departing from the airport to the New Delhi Metro Station (20 minutes for Rs 150). A train departs every 20 minutes from 5 in the morning till 11 in the evening.
Two public bus companies offer a bus service to the city. Several buses depart every hour to various destinations including many hotels in the center, the Inter State Bus Terminal and Delhi Train Station. One way fare is Rs 50 and an extra Rs 25 for heavy luggage.
It is best to book a taxi at the taxi booth run by the Delhi Police (after customs left side). You will pay the full taxi fare to them and they will pay the taxi driver later after he shows the police the receipt proving you were taken to your destination. Only give the receipt to the driver after you arrive; there is no need to tip the driver or pay extra but the driver will probably try to convince you anyway. A non AC taxi into the city will cost about Rs 300. Private taxi operators with full AC taxis are available as well but they are more expensive.
All prices quoted here were found in July 2017
